BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, Ashwini Bhinde, clarified that despite waterlogging incidents, Mumbai never comes to a complete standstill or sinks during the monsoon season. She highlighted that the perception of the entire city being submerged is a result of selective portrayal of low-lying areas on social media. Bhinde emphasized that heavy rain and high tide only lead to water accumulation in specific low-lying spots for a brief period, not city-wide submersion.
In a conversation with a Marathi news channel, Bhinde mentioned that Mumbai, known as a city of dreams attracting a large population daily, faces challenges in providing civic amenities due to limited space. She explained that Mumbai’s geographical location, surrounded by the sea on three sides and experiencing heavy rainfall, contributes to water accumulation in low-lying areas during high tides and downpours.
The BMC has been actively addressing waterlogging issues, reducing the number of such spots from over 200 to around 90 through remedial measures. Bhinde assured ongoing efforts to further decrease this count. She debunked the notion of Mumbai shutting down completely due to rain, citing past instances where disruptions were minimal, emphasizing the city’s resilience and improved preparedness.
To combat water accumulation, Mumbai has constructed four large underground holding tanks to store excess rainwater during heavy downpours. Additionally, the city is progressing with the development of seven Sewage Treatment Plants for wastewater recycling and undertaking extensive road concretization to address pothole concerns, ensuring long-term solutions to monsoon challenges.
